If you’ve ever wanted a refreshing cup of coffee on a hot day without having to turn on the kettle or run to the coffee shop every time a craving hits, you’re in the right place.
Cold brew gives coffee lovers an option to enjoy our favorite drink without the heat but still enjoy a smooth, sweet, and incredibly refreshing brew.
Grab your mug and join us as we explore the best ways to make cold brew, how long to steep, whether to steep on the counter or in the fridge, and which beans to use.
The Short Answer: 12 to 24 Hours
Generally speaking, you'll steep most cold brew coffee for between 12 and 24 hours.
12 Hours or Less
Less than 12 hours, regardless of batch size, temperature, or grind, tends to produce an underextracted beverage because the water won't have had enough time to pull out the soluble components
16 to 18 Hours is the Sweet Spot
We find that most coffees are best brewed for 16 to 18 hours, though the time can vary with the bean and personal tastes. But the best part of making cold brew at home is trying out different times and methods to find your very own favorite.
24 Hours and Beyond
24 hours is the maximum recommended brew time for any method because beyond that may produce bitter or over-extracted flavors, sometimes with woody notes. If you want a stronger brew, next time try using less water or more coffee rather than brewing it longer.
On the Counter or In the Fridge?
Another common question that people ask about cold brew is whether to steep on the counter or in the fridge. Ultimately, how you steep your brew is a personal choice. But, let’s take a look at their differences to help you decide.
Room Temperature Steeping
Steeping at room temperature is a bit faster because the warmer water draws out more soluble compounds from the coffee more quickly, so room-temperature cold brew generally reaches its ideal flavor sooner. So, keep your brew times on the shorter end of the range, say 14-20 hours. If you go over 20 hours, you may start risking overextraction, depending on the coffee and your kitchen temperature. Once strained, chill it in the refrigerator.
Refrigerator Steeping
Refrigerator steeping is a bit more forgiving since the cooler temperatures slow down the extraction so you’re less likely to get overextracted flavors if you forget to strain. And some people prefer this method simply because your coffee is already pre-chilled.
With cooler temperatures, you can steep it at the higher end of the range, say around 16 to 22 hours. But we still recommend NOT going over the 24-hour mark. Going longer than 24 hours doesn't make "stronger concentrate" as the coffee becomes overextracted and the flavor is unappealing.
Getting the Ratio and Grind Right
Coffee-to-Water Ratio
Next, it’s crucial to measure your coffee-to-water ratio so that you get consistent results when you brew.
Our head roaster recommends using 12oz of coffee to 1 gallon of water to make the perfect cold brew. You can easily cut that recipe down to make a smaller batch or double it to share with coworkers or friends.
Some people increase the coffee-to-water ratio by doubling the coffee or halving the water to make a concentrated brew. This is ideal for those who like strong coffee or want to turn their cold brew into a milk-based drink later.
Grind Size
We’ve found that a coarse grind, like you would use in a French Press, consistently produces the cleanest, sweetest cold brew. The coarser grind makes it easier to filter and makes it less likely to produce over-extracted flavors during those long steeping times.
While grinding at home is preferred for freshness, if your home grinder isn’t adjustable, we at Dean’s Beans can grind it for you to the perfect grind size for cold brewing.
How to Make Cold Brew: Step-by-Step
Making cold brew at home is much simpler than you might think. In fact, it’s surprisingly easy!
Here’s our favorite recipe:
Ingredients:
- 12 oz coarsely ground coffee
- 1 gallon of good-tasting tap water or filtered water. Water quality matters!
Directions:
- Choose a large enough vessel to hold the water and coffee with extra room for stirring.
- Add water and the coffee and stir thoroughly.
- Let it steep at room temperature for 14-20 hours or in the fridge for 16-22 hours.
- Strain through a filter, like a cheesecloth or a fine mesh sieve.
- Place in a sealed container and refrigerate to chill. While cold brew can be stored in the fridge for up to 7 days, the sooner you drink it, the better the flavor. We recommend only making as much as you’ll use in 5 days.
- Serve poured over ice.
- Optional: add flavorings, milk, or syrups to sweeten.
- Sip and enjoy!
Which Coffee Works Best for Cold Brew?
No matter what kind of coffee you’re making, start with certified organic, Fair Trade, shade-grown coffees sourced through long-term partnerships with farming cooperatives. Those long-term partnerships allow farmers to focus on growing and processing high-quality beans, which helps us consistently bring delicious coffee to your cup.
Cold brew is a forgiving coffee brewing method that works with any type of coffee bean, including decaf. Having said that, some choices do shine more than others.
Many people enjoy the richness of dark roasts, as they tend to produce a smoother, less acidic-tasting cold brew while still delivering that deep richness with notes of dark chocolate and toasted nuts that many of us love.
But that doesn’t mean you have to use dark. Our certified organic, Fair Trade medium roasts also make excellent cold brews, producing a balanced, sweet, and smooth flavor profile with delicious notes of caramel or chocolate.
In fact, at Dean’s Beans, we make our own medium-roast, certified organic, Fair Trade cold brew coffee sourced from our partnerships with farming cooperatives in Colombia, Nicaragua, and Honduras. This blend was first designed for espresso, and it does make a delicious espresso, but after we tried it as cold brew, it outshone the rest. It produces an incredibly smooth, low-acid cup with delicious chocolatey notes for a perfectly refreshing cup of joe on a hot summer day.
Finally, some of our customers wonder if they can use single origins instead of blends. The short answer is yes! A huge part of the fun of making coffee at home is trying different roasts, origins, and brewing methods to see what you like best.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Most Common Cold Brew Mistakes?
The most common cold brew mistakes include not steeping it long enough (<12 hours), which results in underextraction, or steeping it too long (>24 hours), which can produce overextracted and bitter flavors. Another mistake is grinding the coffee too fine; cold brew is best done with a coarse grind and must be strained well to avoid sediment that leads to bitterness from overextraction.
Is Cold Brew Stronger Than Regular Coffee?
No, the concentration of flavors in a cold brew is as strong as you want to make it, which depends entirely on the coffee-to-water ratio that you use. If you want it stronger, use more coffee or less water. Or, if you find yours too strong, dilute it with more water, milk, or ice.
Can I Heat up Cold Brew?
Cold brew coffees are basically just regular coffees brewed without heat. So yes, you can heat a cold brew and drink it warm. At Dean’s Beans, our custom cold brew blend was first created as an espresso blend, so you can drink it hot or cold!
Let the Steep Speak for Itself
Cold brews are a breeze to make at home and make a fantastic way to beat the summer heat, though you can certainly drink them year-round.
We recommend starting with your favorite certified organic, Fair Trade shade-grown coffees. Then, grind it coarsely, starting with a 12oz coffee to 1 gallon water ratio, and aim for that sweet spot of 16-18 hours whether you steep on the counter or in the fridge.
Then, sip and let the steep speak for itself. If you’re satisfied with the flavors it produces, keep your recipe as is. Or, try adjusting your coffee-to-water ratios, steeping at room temperature or in the fridge, and steeping times to dial in what you like best.
